Shoe shank



May 2l, 1929. J, BREMS ET AL 1,713,738

SHOE SHANK Filed March 14, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l rfv .s I

May 21, 1929, Y J. BRMS ET AL 1,713,738

SHOE SHANK med March 14, 1928 2 sheets-sheet 2 l Il fjll'ilgn'l 11111111 Juve/11410@ atloznue.

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Patented May 21, 1929.

UNITED STATEJS inane JACOB BREMS AND WILLIAM IBREMS, Cl? CINGllNNATI, OHIO. i

SH01?, SHANK.

Application filed March 14.', 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in shanks or'arch supports for shoes either as an insert to be applied into the `finished shoe or built Within the shoe.

Primarily, the invention directed to a shank composed of superposed longitudinal strips constituting a pliable strip and a plurality of elastic strips rigidly connected together at the rear or heel end with the elastic strips having a loose or sliding connection with the forward end of the pliable strip to accommodate for relative variable yield of the strips under transverse pressure applied upon the shank in sustaining the arch of the foot.

An object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a spring shank for shoes composed of a plurality of metal strips in superposed arrangement, and of relatively variable elasticity or resiliency, fixed together' as a unit at one end and loose at the opposite end.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spring shank for shoes composed of a plurality of spring metal strips secured to gether at the rear or heel end, loose and relatively overlapped at the forward end to form a tapering or feathered end longitudinally and avoid abruptness Which might cause injury to the foot.

Another object is to provide a spring shank of the nature described, adjustably attached to a half insole or covering so that when, as a permanent component of a shoe, the shank is suitably anchored to an outsole, the covering or half insole may be adjusted longitudinally of the shank or shoe during assembly to suitably position the covering or half insole in relation to the outsole.

Other objects and certain advantages will be more fully set forth in a description of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure l is a top plan vieu7 of the invention, illustrating it as an article of commerce adapted to be inserted in a finished shoe as an arch support.

`Figure 2 is asectional view taken on line 2-2, Figure 1, detailing the fabrication vof the arch support. y

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the arch support.

Figure t is a bottom view illustrating the arrangement of the various metallic elements of the arch support in relation to the half insole or covering. Y

serieu ivo. 261,451.

Figure 5 a support.

Figure G is a top plan view of a full dimension shoe sole, illustrating the invention as adjustably applied thereto with the metallic base element of the arch support having its foi-Ward end socketed into a pocket in the sole, this view being illustrative of the soie and arch support during the process of shoe asseinbly.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of Figure (i.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8, Figure 6, detailing the manner of securing the metallic elements of the arch support to the sole and illustrating the means whereby the half insole or covering is adjustable in relationto the remainder of the arch support. Y

Figures l to 5 inclusive, of the drawings, illustrate the improvement as an article `of commerce to be inserted in a finished shoe as an arch support, While in Figures 6 to 8 inclusive, thel shank is built in as a permanent component `of the shoe, although in either capacity they are of duplicate construction encept in so far as the shape and outline of the half insole or covering to which thermetallic shank members thereof are xed, is concerned.

In the one instance, theV forward end of perspective View of the arch the metallic shank members are socketed into the forward end of the half insole, While 1n the second instance, the metallic members are engaged into the pocket formed into the inner sole of the shoe or upper side of the outer sole. Therefore, in some types of shoe manufacture, the half insole may be omitted, particularly in shoes having an inner sole as, for instance, Welts, wherein the shank can be inserted betweenh the inner and outer soles so that the use of fthe half insole is eliminated.

As an article of commerce for ianfarch support or in casethe shank is utilized for turn shoes the metallic shank members are applied or fixed to the underside of a half insole l, preferably of leather material. The half insole is skivedl at its underside along its marginal edges, forward from the heel y portion, and at the forward portion to give the saine tapering edges allowing it to he fitted and seated( snugly within the shoe. 'lhe half insole is of `suitable pattern outline to correspond approximately. to the style and size of the inside of the shoe into which it is to be inserted.

- the foot. The plateubeing of a bendable material is readily shaped or pressed to form, and can be convenientlydied out to various pattern outlines for various orthopedic requirements. For instance, the base member can be provided with a lateral eX- tension 3 curved laterally Vto provide an instep supporting lip. Padding indicated at 3 may be inserted between the base member and the half insole to. build up, the insole to any required curvature. A plurality of flat springs l and 5, of relatively different yrectangular cross section and length are supported or iiXed at their rear ends tothe base member preferablyby a rivet 6 passing through the springs and base member, and the rivet may also join the half insoleto the metallic members. j

Y The number of flat springs employed is optional and depends largely upon the capacityor load to be sustained or elasticity required. The forward kend of each spring has a tongue extension 8 respectively engaged through a slotor aperture 9` in the base vmember and lapped uponthe upperside thereof, conlining each spring against lateral displacement or swing, and vslidingly connecting its forward end with the base member which `also serves as a guard for the free ends of the springs.

The use of fiat springs of different width effects an offset or tapering cross section to theunderside of the structure, adapting the same to be more easily itted into the shoe and alsoy stabilizcs'the structure when under stressso as notto possess any tilting tendency, norproduce a.V ridge which may offer discomfort to`V the foot when the shank'is underV stress f The forward end of the shank, when the product represents an article of commerce of an insert arch support, is engagedl or socketed into a pocket l0V cut into the underside of the half insole or into a pocket in the inner yor outer sole when the shank is inserted in the shoe at thetime of making the shoe. VThis prevents the shank from slipping sidewise and also protects and guards the free forward end of the base member, and produces a inetatarsal button. Interlocking the forward'end with the shoe soleV or half innersole will not cause any friction against the foot under the yielding or sliding movement of the base plate.

The springs are applied tothe base member in a flat condition byvflexing to the curvature of the base member at the time of Yapplication and, therefore, maintain a normall'shank curvatureiwith a determined de grec ofstability, which may be varied ori regulatedby the number vof springs employed, the springs being free to yield with' the heavy pressure of the foot and weight of theperson. Y

Referring to Figures G and 8 inclusive, of the drawings, as previously mentioned, the forward end of the shank is socketed into da pocket l() formed in the sole 1l of the shoe, 1

in; this instance in the upper face of an outsole of the turn type. v Thehalf insole l, or covering if an insole of full dimension is used, is adjustably mounted in' relation to Vthe metallic elements of the arch support by means of' rivets l2 holding the arch support inV assembly extendingV through slots Q13 Vformed longitudinally in themhalf insoleror covering. As shown in Figure 8,-the metallic elements are held together at their Erearl end by means of a rivet la corresponding to Vthe rivet 6 of the insert type of construction and are provided with the saine tongue and slot-connection at theirforward ends. The rivets securing the metallic element unit to the half insolein theicase of the rearone,

extends merely through the base element and is split-and turned over, and the-case of the forward one 'extends through-a slot in one -of -the'spring elements 5 and through the base element being split and 'turned on the undersidel of the base element; Y

After the covering or -lialf insole has been adjusted to aligniits rearedge Vwith the rear edge of the outsole, thefrivets aresniashed'y or spread to permanently' setand secure the half insole to the shank elements. This construction provides an arch supportof the saine nature as the insert type with the eX-` ception of the adjustabi-l'ity ofthe halfin f solev or covering in relation toV the metallic elements of the "arch support. e

Having described our invention,-we claim: k1. A shoe shanlncomprising, a plate of bendable material shaped longitudinally toU a determined arch curvature, and a `plurality. of flat springs extending longitudinally of the plate in superposed arrangement and` fixed together and to theplate at the lheel @11d thereof, eachV spring at its forward. endfv slidingly connected tofthe plate, engaging through an aperture in the plate.

2. In a'shoe, a shank, comprising, aplat-e ofbendable materialand ofcurved formation longitudinally, andflaty springs at the underside of said plate,'iixed tothe plate at one end, with the opposite end slidingly ,engaged with the plate, and theforwardiend of said yplate engaged withy a 'pocket of a component of the shoe.

3. An arch supportfor shoes, comprising,

a halt insole, a plate of bendable material shaped longitudinally to a determined arch curvature, and a plurality of flat springs extending longitiiulinally or' the plate in superposed arrangement, said hali' insole, plate and springs fixed together' at one end and each spring at its forward end slidingly connected to the plate, engaging through an aperture in the plate.

et. A shoe construction, comprising, a covering oli halt sole dimension, a plate et bendable material shaped longitudiinrlly to a determined arch curvature, and a, plurality of llat springs extending' longitudinally of the plate in superposed relation, said plates and springs fixed together at one end and each spring at its forward end slidably connected to the plate engaging through an aperture in the plate, said covering longitudinally adjustably secured to the plate, said plate anchored to the sole of the shoe, whereby the covering may be adjusted to iit the outline of the sole.

5. In a shoe, an arch support, comprising, metallic shank elements Secured together in superposed relation, flexible and slidable in rela-tion to each other under transverse load, said elements adapted to be anchored to the shoe sole, and a. covering of half solo dimension a-djustably secured to the shank elements, said covering adjustable Jrior aligning the rear edge thereotl with the heel outline oi' the shoe.

G. A unit for a shoe, comprising, a shoe solo of full dimension, a fabricated metallic arch support anchored to the sole in longitudinal position and a covering oi rear half sole configuration adjustably secured over the shank for longituclinal. adjustment thereon whereby the covering edge may be aligned with the shoe sole edge.

7. A unit for a shoe, comprising, a shoe sole of full dimension and a liexible metallic shank anchored to the sole in longitudinal position, a covering oi rear half sole configuration, rivets secured to said sha-nk and traversing longitudinal slots formed in said covering, said rivets initially loosely traversing the slots whereby the covering may be shifted in relation to the shank and the sole, to properly position the saine in relaour names.

JACOB BREMS. WLLIAM BREMS. 

